Electrical Panel Upgrade

Is your house up to date with the modern electrical installations? The average age of a house today is 35 years and this simply means that most houses are not up to date with the technology used in electrical installations. A new electrical panel is the way forward especially keeping in mind that the appliances we use today over load our electrical systems.

What are Electrical Panels?

Electrical panels assist in the distribution of electricity in a home. The power from the utility company will flow into the electrical panel and from here it will branch to smaller branches that are used in the distribution of power in the home. For the safety of your family and home, you will need a properly working modern electrical panel.

Where is the Panel located?

Most electrical panels are identified by their grey metal box. Most of them are mounted in accessible areas in your house such as the laundry room, basement, closet, garage or utility room. If the panel is nowhere in the house, it is probably located outside. An old electrical panel can lead to a number of issues such as,

• Frequent blows of fuses and tripping breakers
• Electrical wires melting
• Faulty circuit breakers that fail to trip leading to overheating, electrocution and fire
• The need to switch off one appliance so as to use another
• Flickering lights

In short, the older electrical panels will put you and your family in danger of electric shocks and your home at risk of fire and damage of property.

Signs that you need a new Electrical Panel

• Rust or corrosion on the panel or breakers
• Two pronged or non-grounded outlet
• Electronics running at half power
• Panel box making cracking sounds
• Electrical service conductors over heating
• Home not installed with GFCIs in required areas
• You need surge protectors to protect your appliances
• You frequently need extension cords
• Your electrical panel has no main breaker
• 100 amps are insufficient for your home
• Your home still uses 60 amp electrical service

There are other reasons that will lead to the consideration of a new electrical panel in your home and these include:

• The renovation of your home, in most cases the kitchen which is full of heavy appliances
• When you have an addition in your home
• The addition of 240 volt circuit
• When you are adding a new heavy-duty appliance such as a spa, garage power equipment, central heating among others
• When you require a sub panel
• When you are adding new outlets in the house

Modern electrical panels re designed to keep the house safe and some models that were installed as recently as the 80s might have deteriorated and need an upgrade because they are unsafe. If you live in a home that has any of the following electrical panels you need to have a modern electrical panel installed as soon as possible.

Fuse box – This is the oldest panel type and was designed to handle between 30 and 60 amps. The appliances used today in our homes will need anything between 100 and 200 amps and thus his fuse box will malfunction in most cases and not deliver the required power.

Pushmatic electrical panel –These panels are fitted with weak breakers that prove difficult to reset. They also lack main breakers to stop electric flow through them.

Zinsco electrical panel – These panels have faults in their designs such that they will allow electricity to flow through them even when the breakers are off. Their breakers easily melt and this renders their function useless. Zinsco panels will increase the risks of fire, shocks and should be replaced with modern electrical panels.

Federal Pacific electrical panels –These panels were manufactured between the 50s and the 80s and have manufacturing and design flaws that can cause fire or electric shocks. If your home still uses this panel, it is classified as a safety defect and you should get a new modern electrical panel to replace this old panel that might cause accidents in your home.

Contact Fail Safe Electric today and get an electrical inspection of your home. Our experts will assist in making your home safer and protecting your family and your property through the installation of a modern well functioning electrical panel.

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